Paraguay’s President Horacio Cartes proudly watched Friday morning as children handed out gifts to visiting central bankers and finance officials in Asuncion, a rare moment in the spotlight for one of South America’s smallest nations.
Twelve hours later, Paraguay was still attracting attention, but for the wrong reasons as violent protests followed the senate’s unexpected approval of a bill allowing Cartes to stand for re-election. One person died as demonstrators stormed the congress building in the nation’s capital, and set it ablaze.